Bermuda-based Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited said RichardHoughton has been appointed chief financial officer effective April30.

The reinsurance firm said Mr. Houghton, who joins the companyfrom Royal Bank of Scotland Group where he was chief operatingofficer, will report to Chris O'Kane, Aspen's chief executiveofficer.

Mr. Houghton was previously group finance director of RBSInsurance and was also group finance director of Ulster Bank,another subsidiary of RBS. He began his professional career as anaccountant at Deloitte & Touche where he spent 10 years workingin audit, corporate finance recovery.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants inEngland and Wales.

Mr. O'Kane said Aspen, which began operations in 2002, is movinginto the next phase of its development. “And the experience Richardbrings will complement and broaden our capabilities for thechallenges and opportunities ahead.”

The current Aspen CFO, Julian Cusack, will continue as chairmanand CEO of AIL, Mr. O'Kane said.

Aspen provides property and casualty reinsurance in the globalmarket, property and liability insurance principally in the UnitedKingdom and the United States, and specialty insurance andreinsurance consisting mainly of marine and energy and aviationworldwide.